*The Federal Government predicts heavy rains, cautioning 94 towns are at risk of flooding between Tuesday, July 16 and July 20, 2024 across Nigeria

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Amid the raining season in Nigeria, the Federal Government has predicted that 94 towns are at risk of a five-day flooding, beginning from Tuesday, July 16 to July 20, 2024.

绿帽献妻 gathered Dr. Iziaq Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Environment, disclosed this development Tuesday.

The Minister reportedly noted the identified locations and their environs would likely witness heavy rainfall that might lead to flood within the prediction period.

Salako listed the concerned states as Adamawa State (Gbajili, Ganye); Abia State (Eziama, Arochukwu); Anambra State (Onitsha); Akwa Ibom (Uyo, Upenekang, Oron, Edor, Eket, Obianga, Etinan); Bauchi State (Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi); Bayelsa State (Letugbene); Borno State (Maiduguri); Cross River State (Ikom, Calabar, Itigidi, Akpap); Nasarawa State (Udeni, Tunga); and the Federal Capital Territory (Abaji, Bwari).

Others are Jigawa State (Miga, Ringim, Dutse, Hadejia); Kano State (Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Wudil, Sumaila); Kebbi State (Gwandu, Jega, Kangiwa, Gauri-Banza, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Kamba, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Argungu, Bagudo); Katsina State (Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina, Daura, Funtua); and Kwara State (Kosubosu).

Niger State (Ibi, Bida, Kontagora, Mashegu, Minna, New Bussa, Katcha, Rijau, Wushishi); Plateau State (Jos, Mangu); Rivers State (Port-Harcourt, Onne, Okrika, Bori); Sokoto State (Makira, Goronyo, Isa, Silame, Sokoto, Wamako); Taraba State (Gembu, Beli, Garkowa, Gasol, Serti, Donga, Duchi, Gwarzo, Gun gun Bodel); Yobe State (Gashua, Gasma, Damaturu, Geidam, Kanama); and Zamfara State (Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Majara, Gummi) are among other locations in the country.

Minister urges stakeholders’ collective effort against potential massive flooding

Dr. Salako, however, urged stakeholders in Nigeria to mitigate the flooding.

In regard to the possibility that Cameroonian Government had notified the Ministry of Environment of the time it would open floodgates of the Lagdo Dam, the Minister stated that it was the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation that manages dams in the West African country.

He explained: “If there鈥檚 going to be any issue around the Lagdo Dam, they will inform the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. But I鈥檓 not sure they have had any information because if they have any information, they usually also transmit such information to us at the federal level.”

In a related development, the Sokoto State Government has disclosed its readiness to avert any possible flooding across the state this year.

Sambo Danchadi, Honourable Minister Commissioner for Information, said the state government, through one of the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, was working round the clock to maintain a safe environment, The Punch report said.

Also speaking on the raining season, Mustapha Umar, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, also said the agency had organised sensitisation and awareness programmes in flood-prone areas.

鈥淲e even had an evacuation plan, the National Emergency Management Agency asked us to submit our plan and designated areas in case of flood and we have collated that and submitted it to them already.

鈥淲e have done a lot in terms of dishing out information to the people and creating awareness for them on dangers involved with flood,鈥� Mustapha stated.

In readiness to address flooding in the South-South state, the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control said it would continue the task of clearing natural drains within Yenagoa and its environs to mitigate the impact of this year鈥檚 flood.

Walson Omuso, Chairman of the directorate, noted that the chairmen of the Rural Development Authorities were locating higher grounds for the erection of makeshift relief camps, report said.

Omuso, however, said the agency was not embarking on any fresh moves in reaction to the flood warning by the Federal Ministry of Environment, which named Bayelsa among the states to be affected by flooding between now and July 20.

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